Dear Healthcare Lady,
I keep hearing about the swine flu. They say people are dying from this flu! Can I get it from eating pork? I don't know anything about it. Jeanne
Jeanne,
The swine flu actually started in pigs. It is a respiratory disease caused by the type A influenza virus. The disease does not normally pass from pigs to humans. The swine flu is passed from person to person but in the past the disease did not pass beyond three people.
It has been determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious but the CDC has not determined how easily it is passed from person to person.
The swine flu behaves very much like human flu with the usual symptoms, fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu.
This is a very serious illness and has caused death in some cases. Also as in the case of human flu underlying respiratory illnesses such as asthma or other respiratory disease may be worsened.
The best treatment is prevention. Cover your mouth when you cough. Use good handwashing techniques. If you touch door handles wash your hands immediately. Take care when touching anything in high traffic areas. If you do exhibit flu like symptoms stay at home and see your doctor immediately to get a diagnosis. The health department is concerned and have used the word pandemic to indicate that cases of this swine flu have appeared all over the world.
Check out the link below to get accurate information from the Centers for Disease Control that will answer all your questions.
Take care.
Swine Influenza (Flu)
